The Seagull

Published Monday 11 June 2007 at 10:35 by Peta David

A lost summer somewhere in Russia a group of artists gather to escape the city heat.

The long lazy days are spent talking about their love and passion for the theatre, beautifully epitomised by Arkadina an actress played with just enough flamboyant pretentiousness by Frances Barber. She sweeps everyone up with an elegant twist of her wrist into a tangled web of unrequited love, high passion and deception. Her lover Trigorin played by Gerald Kyd looks every inch the bohemian artist, brooding with passion for the young infatuated Nina the daughter of a wealthy landowner. He takes her as his Seagull and destroys her, ‘a subject for a short story’ he quips. Nina’s journey is the most heart wrenching to watch, from a young giggly girl to the damaged and disillusioned young women she becomes. Full of angst and emotional turmoil, we follow the gradual decline of Konstantin (played by Richard Goulding) who is hopelessly in love with the young Nina that leads to tragic consequences. His complex relationship with his Mother, Arkadina is picked over. The house party is complete with the presence of the elderly Sorin, Arkadina’s brother bought to life with masterful perfection by William Gaunt and Dorn the local Doctor ( Jonathan Hyde). They bring much needed light relief to this heart rendering story. Director Trevor Nunn has succeeded in capturing the essence and style of the period and place, however it is very dimly lit which sometimes makes it difficult to see what is happening.